Localized thickening and scaling of the outer layers of the skin as a result of prolonged exposure to the sun.
A red, scaly, precancerous skin lesion that is the result of years of sun exposure. Actinic keratoses usually occur on parts of the body that experience the most exposure to ultraviolet light, such as the face, ears, and backs of the hands. Most lesions develop in middle age or later; appear as small (less than 3/4 inch), dry, scaly bumps on the skin surface; and may be tan, pink, or red. Actinic keratoses are precancerous, meaning that, if left untreated, a lesion may develop into squamous cell carcinoma, a serious type of skin cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma is usually not life-threatening if detected and treated early but, if left untreated, it can spread into lymph nodes or internal organs and become incurable.
A rough, sandpaper-textured, premalignant macule or papule caused by excess exposure to ultraviolet light. AKs often appear on facial skin (e.g., near the eyes, on the nose, on the ears, or the lips) and the parts of the body that receive the most sunlight exposure. Prevention of AKs depends on limiting one’s exposure to sunlight, beginning in childhood and continuing throughout life.
A pre-malignant skin condition characterized by the development of thick, scaly, or crusty patches on sun-exposed skin. If left untreated, actinic keratosis carries a 20% risk of progressing into skin cancer.